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Vimy Anniversary Tree Planting Project Going Ahead in April

Two special events in April will kick off a local tree planting project to mark both the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge and Canada’s 150th birthday.

The planting of a “Living Guard of Honour”, consisting of up to 100 maple trees, will take place along the east side of Adair Boulevard between the SDCI-Holy Cross high school building and the Gemini Sportsplex. The project is being jointly sponsored by Trees for 3 Dots Planting Inc. and the Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, with support from Scouts Canada and various local businesses. The trees will act as a Living Guard of Honour to pay tribute to the service of Canada’s veterans.

The two April events are:

Sunday, April 9, 12 noon: a groundbreaking ceremony at the Adair Boulevard site. This event will include brief comments from project partners and local elected officials. It will also include the planting of the first maple tree of the project in honour of General Sir Arthur Currie, Strathroy native and Chief of Staff of the Canadian Corps during the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

RESCHEDULED - Now on Saturday, April 29, 8:30am -1:00pm: planting of the trees which will make up the Living Guard of Honour. Afterwards, there will be brief announcements about plans to offer opportunities for educational programming and maintenance partnerships with both SDCI and Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School.

The Battle of Vimy Ridge was fought on April 9-12, 1917 in the Nord Pas-de-Calais region of northern France, and involved all four divisions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, including Strathroy native General Sir Arthur Currie. This was the first time all four divisions had participated together on the battlefield. This military engagement was part of the opening phase of the British-led Battle of Arras. The Canadian Corps achieved its objectives in the battle, in the process suffering 10,602 casualties, including 3,598 men who lost their lives.

This tree-planting project commemorates this important event in Canada’s history which also has special significance in the Strathroy community. It also helps the Municipality in achieving its urban forest objectives.